Polk State Expands Class Offerings at Northeast Polk Location
Polk State College will this spring offer more classes than ever before at Ridge Community High School as part of its unrelenting commitment to meet the educational needs of Northeast Polk County.
For the past several years, the College has offered classes at the Davenport location. Throughout that time, it has constantly monitored its offerings and its course schedule to ensure it is serving not only dual-enrolled high school students but also members of the community seeking higher education.
The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, said Martha Santiago, dean of academic affairs on the Winter Haven campus.
“In the spring of 2012, we served 434 students at Ridge. By the fall of this year, we were serving 589,” she said. “The tremendous growth in our student body at Ridge shows that the community is embracing what Polk State is doing out there. And we’re embracing them right back by continuing to adjust our course lineup and schedule to put higher education within their reach.”
Taking into account the growth it has seen at Ridge — and the demand from the community for even more offerings — the College has decided to double its offerings at the school.
The expanded list of courses follows a streamlining of the schedule at Ridge earlier this year. Class start times had varied widely, but now consistently start at 3 p.m. or in the early evening. The adjusted schedule makes it easier for students to plan work shifts, childcare and other work-life demands around their educational pursuits.
The new schedule also better serves area employers, who sought a more convenient way for their employees to balance work while still advancing educationally.
“We heard the call of the community and we responded,” Santiago said. “Polk State is always looking out for the people of Northeast Polk, and we listen to the community and businesspeople. With this new schedule at Ridge, we are making it easier for students to get their associate degrees from Polk. There is no need to travel anywhere else.”
The adjusted schedule at Ridge is just one example of Polk State’s commitment to meeting student need. The College offers early-morning, evening and weekend classes, as well as a growing slate of online offerings, all with an eye to helping students balance their other commitments without sacrificing their education.
Classes at Ridge begin Jan. 28. They include:
Monday and Wednesday
MAT1033, Intermediate Algebra, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
SLS1101, College Success, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
Tuesday
HUM2020, Intro to Humanities, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MAC1105, College Algebra, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
REL2300, World Religion, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SLS1101, College Success, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday
HUM2020, Intro to Humanities, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MAT1033, Intermediate Algebra, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
PSY2012, General Psychology, 5 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday
ENC0025, Developmental Writing II, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
ENC1101, College Composition I, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
ENC1102, College Composition II, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
MAC1105, College Algebra, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
MAT0018, Developmental Mathematics, 7 p.m. to 8:35 p.m.
MAT0028, Developmental Mathematics II, 6 p.m. to 7:35 p.m.
REA0017, Developmental Reading II, 6 p.m. to 7:35 p.m.
REL2300, World Religion, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
SLS1101, College Success, 3 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.
Ridge Community High School is located at 500 Orchid Drive in Davenport.
Students currently enrolled at the College may register for classes at Ridge online through the College’s Passport. Prospective new students should first submit an online application to the College at polk.edu. After doing so, they will be scheduled for an orientation session, during which they will register for their first classes.
The College’s online Steps to Admission guide provides students with information such as how to apply for financial aid, how to request transcripts, and when to schedule placement testing.
The College’s online course catalog will help students in choosing and planning a course of study.